Catching and delivering mechanism for mail-bags.



L. B. PUTBR. OATGHING AND DBLWERING MEOEANISM FOP. MAIL BAGS.

APILIOATION FILED .TURB 9. 190B.

Patented Nov. 17,1908.

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L. B. FUTER. OATGHING AND DELIVERING MEHANISM FOB. MAIL BAGS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE s, 190s.

904,058. Patented Nov.17,1908.

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LORENZ l5. FU'lElt, OF (.RORDONVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA..

CATCHING AND DELIVERING MECHANISM Specification of Letters Patent.

FOR MAIL-B AGS.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Application flied June 9, 1908. Serial No. 437,512.

To all whom 'it Imay concern.'

Be it known that I, LORENZ B. FUTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at (o'rdonville, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Catching and Delivering Mechanism for Mail-Bags, ci which thc following is a specification.

My invention relates to mail-bag catchers and deliverers, and particularly to those catchers which are mounted rotatably on a standard beside the track and have free rotation therearound to taire up the shock caused by the impact of the bag, and to delivercrs adapted to operate in conjunction therewith.

One object of my invention is to provide a catcher wherein the bag is received from a moving train without jar, and the rectilinear motion of the bag transformed into a circular motion about the axis of the catcher, the bag being locked on the catcher immediately upon its reception, so that no rebound will throw it out of the catcher, and so that it cannot bc otherwise removed accidentally until the catcher comes to a stop and the gate thereon be manually opened to release the ba nother object of my invention is to provide a mechanism wherein tige ba will not be subjected to such action as wil tend to rend it open, or otherwise damage it and its contents.

To these ends my invention consists in a catching or receiving mechanism having a catching arm norma ly locked in its receiving position, but adapted to be unlocked when the Inail-bag is received and to be freely rotated about a standard as a center, said arm being provided with a ivoted ate operating when the bag is caug t to un ook the arm and to lock the bag upon the catching arm.

The invention also consists in the peculiarly shaped bag-anchor or sup ort which is hung from the delivering mec anism and is engaged directly by the catching mechanism.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective view of my apparatus in use. Fig, 2, is a plan view of the catching or receiving arm. Fig. 3, is a vertical section of the receiving arm and connected mechanism, the gate being in elevation. Fig. 4, is a detail perspective of the bag supporting finger.

Fig. 5, is a detail of the baganchor or support.

The standard 2 upon which the receiving arm is mounted is located adjacent to the track and is provided at its upper end with the capital or enlarged head 3, which may be of any suitable form, but which should have a flat upper plate 3, forming a bean ing for the arm 5. The under face of the arm 5 is lat and conforms to the upper surface of the plate 3. Ball races are formed in the plate 3 and under face of the arm 5, in which are located the anti-friction balls 4. Preferably the head or capital 3 is hollow, and a headed bolt 7 passes upward through the upper plate 3 and the arm 5 to hold the arm upon the head 3. The bolt is provided with the nuts 7 and with the washer 8 supported upon the antifriction balls 8. These balls are mounted in race-ways formed on the under side of the washer 8 and the upper side of the arm 5. It will be seen that the arm 5 has free rotary motion around the bolt 7 as the axis, and that the arm is supported with as little friction as possible upon the head 3 of the standard 2. The arm 5 is pivoted about at its middle. One end is provided with the counterweights 9, which are adjustable along the arm as will be later described, and the other end is provided with the catching hook and gate mechanism into which the mail-bag or its supporter is received. Preferably I form the arm 5 relatively wide in order to give a firm support to the gate loclrin mechanism. At its end, the arm is forme into a hook 10, one side of which at its end is outwardly bent as at 10', so as to 1guide the bag-anchor or support into the ody of the hook. Pivoted upon. what may be called the forward edge of the arm 5, is the U-shaped gate 1l whose arms 11', 11" when the gate is in the position shown in Fig. 1, are in alnement with the 4sides of the hook formed on the end of the arin 5. This gate when turned occupies the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 2, wherein the arnisare transverse to the sides of the hook 10, and lie across said hook closing the same.

It will be seen that if the exterior arm 11 of the gate be omitted, the gate will have the shape of a bell-crank or angle lever in plan, one arm of which contacts with the bag or holder, the other closing the entrance of the receivin r hook after the bag holder has entered. 'ghegate is pivoted eccentrically and not at its middle and is free to turn when struck, as by a mail-bag or the mailbag support to be hereafter described. The gate will be thus turned from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in dotted lines, whereupon the arm 11 will close the hook 10 and securely hold the mailbag within the closed hook. The arm 11 is outwardly inclined as shown, to more perfectly guide the bag holder into the opening of the gate.

lVhile it is necessary that the receiving arm should be free to rotate until the shock of the bag impact has been taken up, yet it is also necessary that the arm should be held rigidly in its catching position when the train is approaching, so that it may have proper relative alinement with the delivering device on the train, and so that it may not be moved from that position by wind or otherwise. T this end I form the upper face of the plate 3 with a recess or notch 3 L and provide the arm with a spring actuated pin 13 entering said recess when the arm is 1n the catchin position, which pin is adapted to be raise when the Inail-bag has been caught by the hook. To prevent the imme` diate rotation of the arm u on theba being received before it is proper y engage in the hook, I provide a longitudinally extending spring rod 12, attached at one end in any suitable manner to the arm 5, preferably rearward of the axis of the arm, which rod carries projecting downward from it, the pin 13, which passes through an opening in the arm and is adapted to enter the recess 3 in the plate 3. The spring normally holds this pin in the recesss 3, but in order that the in may be lifted out of the recess, I extend) the arm 12 forward and turn it up Wardl The rear edge of the gate plate 11 is we ge shaped or otherwise formed (see` Fig. 1), so that as it is turned t0 the position shown in dotted lines, that is the lockin position, it will wedge upward the forwar end of the spring arm, thus raising the pin 13, out of the recess.

It is to be understood that the spring arm may be mounted in any suitable guide 6, and that it may be constructed and mounted in many other ways than that shown without de artin from the spirit of my invention.

n or er that the gate 11 shall be. held rigidly when it has been turned from the p0- sitlon shown in full lines Fig, 1, to the lockin position shown in dotted lines, I provide the fixed pintle 14 on` which thegate is pivoted with a fixed ratchet 15, which is thus concentric with the pivotal point of the4 gate.

Mounted on the gateds a pawl 15 engaging with the teeth of the ratchet. Thepawl and the teeth are so arranged as to permit movement of the gatefrom the open position to its locked aosition, or continuous movement in that direction, but not to permit a reverse movement which would tend to move the gate from its closed position to the open position. Thus once the mail-bag by its sup porting anchor has been received within the gate and the gate closed, it will remain closed and there is no chance for the bag to be thrown out, either through rebound or the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the arm 5.

As before stated the rear end of the arm is provided with one or more shiftablc counterweights 9. One weight might be fixed, this Weight' acting to counter-balance the standing mechanism, while the other weights can be shiftable and adjustable tocounter balance the varying weights of mail-bags.

Thile I do not wish to be limited to any particular manner of supporting the counterweights upon'the arm 5, I have shown the arm 5 as reduced and extending through the counterweights, the counterwei hts being held thereon by'set screws 9. prefer to make these counterweights slotted so as to be set on to the reduced end of the arm 5, rather than have the arm 5 pass through a passage in the counterweight, as the first construction permits me to provide the extremity of the arm 5, with a terminal stop 5 or a series of stops along its length, which will revent the centrifugal action of the rotatlng arm from throwing the weights off, in s ite of the set screws.

Tlie delivering device consists of a crane or bracket formed on the vertical fixed shaft 16, the bracket piece 17 and the outwardly projecting arm 18. The shaft 1G is preferably formed so that it may be adjusted to a car door. Su `,orted on the arm 1s an angu lar finger 19 h ving at the inner end thereof a sleeve 19' adapted t0 surround and be clamped upon the bracket arm 18, by means of theset screws 19". As will be noted the finger is angularand its upper surface inclines downward to the point. At the bend of the finger there is a hollowed portion 19 in which the loop ofthe mail-bag will rest. The fin er is also provided wlth a spring 2() whic is fastened at its inner end to the sleeve 19 and extends downward from the sleeve over the upper face of the finger to the end thereof, where it is curved upward and backward. As will be seen a s ace 19 is thus left between the angle of t e finger and the spring for the reception of the up er ring 0r eye 22 of an anchor 21. The ancliior Ql is T-sha ed in general form, the central depelidi-ng ar having at its end the spring closed hook 21', the upper end of the central bar being formed with the transverselyV projeeting bar 22. At the junction of the transverse bar with the central bar ofthe anchor, and projeetin `alcove the same is the eye-22 adaptedI t0 s 1p1 over thei finger 194 and be Supported thereon. As will be seen in Fig. l, the mail-bag is support ed at its middle within the hook 2l.

It will of course be understood that the catching hook 10 and the gate 1l do not contact directlyT with the mail-bag itsolt. but engage with the depending central har ot' the anchor' and with the hook portion at the end of the arm 5, and that the openings ot' the gate and of the hook 10 are both oi such dimensions as will adapt them to easilyY receive the central bar ot' the anchor. 'lhe cross bar 22 prevents the anchor trom dropv ping through or being pulled downward out of the hooked end of the catcher bar 5 and the gate- The operation of my invention is clear. As the train approaches the station the delivering arm 18 is drawn into the car and the bag attached to the anchor which is placed upon the finger 1U. Meanwhile the catching' arm 5 has been adjusted in a direction transverse to the track with the gate l l in its open position.

The depending anchor as it is carried along by the train enters into and strikes the gate turning the same into the position shown in dotted lilies in Fig. Qi. at the saine time raising the locking pin 5 out ot' thc recess or notch in the upper t'ace ot' the plate f3', and allowing the arm 5 carrying the bag to rotate as a whole upon the standard 2. said rotation continuing until the force ot' the impact has been expended. lmmediately upon the closing ot the gate the pawl on the end of the arm has engaged the teeth ot' the ratchet and the gate pivoted, thus the gate will be held in the position into which it has been moved b v its contact with the anchor.

lt will be seen that the bag received without any shock 't'or the reason that the gate is turned upon its pivot b v the impact of the anchor and bag, and that bet'ore it has reached the limit ot' its movement the latch has been raised and the arm tree to rotate. The finger 19 is not to be set exactly parallel with the line of motion of the train, but is to be inclined at a slight angle to the line of motion and pointing outward from the car. so that it will approximate the line ot movement of the catcher hook, thus the bag or anchor will receive no shock `when the line of movement is so slightly changed.

hiv construction provides a lock to pre vent the mail-bag from being thrown otl" the catching arln and also provides an anchor for the mail-bag which precludes the possibility7 of the bag coming in contact with any oi the mitching devices. This obviates one of the ditliculties ot ordinar)v catching devices in use in the majority of instances wherein the bag itself struck h v the catcher and torn away t'roin its supports,

this action tending to rend the bag and othA erwise damage it.

lvhile I have shown what l believe to be the preferable form olf my invention IY do not wish to be limited thereto, as the spirit thereot may be embodied in many1 other forms and with many moditications in detail.

Having thus described in v invention what l claim as new and desire to secure b v Letters Patent; is:

1. A mail-bag delivering and catching mechanism comprising a supporting arm pivoted to the car tor movement in a horizontal plane, a tinger extending rearward at an angle to the supporting arm and a bag support removablY hung on said tinger hav ing means t'or engaging the bag and a transverse bar above said bag engaging means; in combination with catching mechanism located at the side of the track and adapted to i.

engage with said bag support, beneath said transverse bar and to withdraw it 'from said finger.

L. A mail-img delivering and catching mechanism comprising a supporting arm pivoted to the car 'for movement in a horizontal plane.y a tinger extending rearward at an angle to the supporting arm and a bag supporting anchor consisting of a downwardlv extending rod having a bag hook at its lower end, the upper end oi said rod having au c ve and a transverse bar t'ormed therewith below the eye, said eve being adapted to receive the linger of the supporting arm; in combination with receiving mechanism located at the side of the track and :ulaptcd to engage said anchor henaath the transverse bar and withdraw it trom said linger.

3. mail-bag catcher including a standard. an arm rotatably7 mounted on the standard for movement in a horizontal plane around the standard a center, said arni having a receiving hook formed at one end and a U-shapcd gate pivoted at its corner to one end of the arm so that when in one position the opening ot' the gate shall be in the same direction as the opening ot' said hookvand that when in its closed position, the sides ot said openinn' shall lie transverse to the hook, one of said sides closing the same.

4. A mail-bag catcher including a standard,y an arm rotatably mounted on the standard t'or movement in a horizontal plane, said arm having a receiving hook formed at one end; in combination with a gate pivoted to the end oi the arm and adapted to be closed across said hook b v engagement with a mailbag support, and ratchet mechanism holding the gate At'rom reverse movement at'ter it has turned to its closed position.

5. A mail-bag catcher including a standard, an arm rotatably mounted on the standard for movement in a horizontal plane, said arm having a receiving hook formed on one tilt) end thereof; in combination with a gate pivoted to the end of the arm at one side of said hook, lsaid gate being adapted to be turned from its open to its closed position across said hook by contacting with a bag support, the fixed pivot of said gate being formed with a ratchet wheel thereon, and said gate being provided with a pawl engaging with said ratchet whereby said gate shall be held in its closed osition.

6. A mail-bag catcher including a standard, an arm rotatably mounted on the standard for movement in a horizontal plane, said arm having a receiving hook formed at one end thereof, a rotatable clement normally lying across the opening of said hoo-k, but adapted to be moved to another position by engagement with a bag support. a locking bar mounted on the top ot the supporting arm and carrying a pin adapted to engage with a recess formed in the upper end of said standard to hold the supporting arm from movement, said rotating element on the end of the arm being adapted to engage t with said locking bar to raise the pin where by the catching arm may he rotated.

T. A mail-bag catcher including a stand.- ard, an arm rotatably mounted on the standard for movement in a horizontal plane, said arm having a receiving hook at. one end thereof, a rotatable element normally lying across said hook but adapted to be moved in a position parallel with said hook by engagement with a bag support, and a resilient locking bar mounted on the top ot' the supporting arm and carrying a pin adapted to engage with a recess formed in the upper end of said standard to hold the supporting arm from movement, said rotating element heilig adapted to wedge beneath the outer end of said resilientbar to raise the same, and with it the pin from engagement with the recess in the standard.

8. A mail-bag catching mechanism ineluding a standard, a catcher arm rotatably mounted upon the standard and projecting on either side beyond the same` said catcher arm provided at one end with mechanism for catching and holding the mail bag, and at the other end with adjustable counterweights adapted to counterbalance the mechanism and said mail-bag, said standard having a race-Way formed in its upper face andballs located in said race-way support ing the said catcher arm.

9. A mail-bag catching mechanism including a standard, a catcher arm rotatably mounted upon the standard and provided at its end With mechanism for engaging and holding the mail-bag, said arm having a ball-bearing upon the upper face of the standard, the rear end ot' said arm being provided with adjustable and removable counterweights.

l0. A inail-bag catching mechanism including a standard having race-ways formed on the upper surface of its top plate, a catcher arm mounted upon the upper face of the standard and provided with race-Ways on its under tace, anti-friction rollers mounted within the race-ways, a bolt passing through the upper end of the standard and through t-he catcher arm, a Washer mounted on the bolt, nuts for clamping the washer against the arm and anti-friction devices located between the washer and the upper face ot' the arm.

11. A mail-bag catcher including a standard having a hollow portion formed at its upper end provided with a bearing plate, an arm mounted upon the bearing plate provided at one end with a bag receiving hook and at the other end with adjustable counterweights, a pivot bolt passing through the bearing plate and said catcher arm around which the arm rotates, anti-friction devices between the lower face of the arm and the Lipper face of the plate, a gate mounted on the forward end of the arm adapted to close the bag receiving hook on the end of the arm, and a looking device operated by the gate having a downwardly projecting pin normally engaging with a recess formed in the upper face of the bearing plate to prevent the rotation of the catcher arm on the standard.

l2. A mail-bag catcher including a standard, an arm rotatably mounted on the standard for movement in a horizontal plane, said arm having a receiving hook at one end thereoi'V and the outer arm ot' the'hoolr being outwardly curved, a U-shaped gate pivotally mounted upon the end of the arm, the opening of said gate coinciding with the opening of the hook under normal conditions but said gate being adapted to be turned across said hook opening by the entry of a mail-bag support therein, a ratchet t'or preventing reverse movement of said gate, and means for normally holding the arm from rotation upon the standard, said means being thrown out of engagement upon the actuation ot' said gate to permit the arm to rotate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LORENZ B. FUTER.

Witnesses:

OLivER C. FUTER, AMos Forum. 

